Eat candy in one sitting. It may give your kids a sugar rush if they eat all that they want at one time, but it’s better for their teeth. Eating candy throughout the day constantly bathes the teeth in sugar. Also, it lowers the pH of the mouth all day, making it easier to get cavities.

Eat candy at meal times. The meal acts as a buffer.

Rinse your teeth with water or brush your teeth after eating the candy.

Eat candy that dissolves easily. Candy like pixie sticks and chocolate is better for your teeth than hard candy that you suck on for long periods of time or the worst type of candy: chewy, sticky candy like caramels or gummies. The chewy, sticky candy are high in sugar and spend a long period of time stuck to the teeth and are more difficult for your body to break down.

Finally, the dental staff gives this suggestion: Remember the rule of twos! Brush your teeth at least two times per day for two minutes and visit the dentist two times per year.

By following these tips, your children’s Halloween exploits might not be such a horror show for their teeth after all.

Thursday, October 22, 2015

SIOUX CENTER – People often focus on the health of their children but let their own health matters slip to the background.

An Adult Health Fair 2-6 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 28, will help adults put their own health into focus and answer the following question for themselves: How healthy am I? The event will be held in the House of Missions & Equipping (HOME) building in Sioux Center, located behind Culver’s and Hy-Vee.

A variety of screenings and information will beoffered during an Adult Health Fair that will beheld 2-6 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 28, at the Houseof Missions & Equipping (HOME) building,located behind Culver's and Hy-Vee onthe south side of Sioux Center.

“It’s fun to see Community Health Partners, Sioux Center Health and Promise working together to create a healthier community – and specifically the Latino population,” said Vicki Schrock, clinic manager for Promise.

Schrock said members of the Latino Health Coalition of Sioux County, which falls under the umbrella of Community Health Partners, dreamt up the idea for the health fair – with the goal of helping their men become healthier. CHP then partnered with Promise and Sioux Center Health to plan the health fair, and many other health-related organizations in the county will participate in the event itself.

The health fair will include the following screenings:

Weight and body mass index (BMI) – free;

Blood pressure – free;

Dirty neck syndrome – free;

Vision – free;

Mental health – free;

Diabetes – $15;

Colon cancer – $15;

Flu vaccine shot – $25 – and flu vaccine mist – $35;

Information also will be provided by various organizations on many topics including:

Men’s health;

Women’s health, including breast cancer awareness and mammograms;

Birth control, including Creighton Model FertilityCare System;

Dental care;

Vaccines for adults;

Tobacco and e-cigarette use;

Exercise and fitness;

Mental, spiritual, emotional and family health.

Healthy snacks and water also will be offered at the event.

Schrock said Promise appreciates being involved in the inaugural Adult Health Fair.

“I really believe that this buys into our mission of creating a healthier community, so I’m excited for it,” she said. “I hope it becomes an annual event.”

For more information about the health fair, contact the following representatives of the Latino Health Coalition: Raquel Rojas at 712-449-5654 or Kelly Reyes at 712-441-0006.Promise Community Health Center, headquartered in Sioux Center, is the only Federally Qualified Health Center in the far northwest corner of Iowa. To learn more, visit www.promisechc.org.